Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women: Real Stories from Inspirational, Artistic, and Empowered Women (True Life Stories, Beautiful Photography)

by Angela LoMenzo, Kathy Rose (Foreword by), James LoMenzo (Photographer)

Overview

Real Stories from Wildly Creative Women

“If you need an extra boost of bravery, read this book! If you want to simply feel more positive about the world, read this book!” —Sherry Richert Belul, founder of Simply Celebrate and author of Say It Now

Winner of the 2024 National Indie Excellence Book Award

#1 New Release in Interviews, Photography Criticism & Essays, and Photojournalism

Angela LoMenzo combines stunning photography and powerful real stories documented from interviews with a diverse group of accomplished women that encourages us to dig deep into our own creative lives!

Women from all walks of life. Artists, musicians, authors, fashion designers, entrepreneurs, and others from a multitude of creative careers share their experiences with depression, bullying, infertility, cancer, assault, loss of loved ones, drug addiction, and many other issues women often do not have a safe space to talk about. These stories show you just how real life is.

Powerful affirmations and true-life stories to empower you. This book is packed with words of wisdom from women who have both overcome adversity and achieved an authentic life honoring their individuality and freedom of personal expression. Their real stories illustrate that it is possible to live the life you have always desired now.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Words of wisdom and beautiful photography of wildly creative women
• Raw and authentic interviews featuring stories by women redefining the role of a woman
• And much more!

If you're looking for unique gifts for women who have everything or if you like books such as Women, In the Company of Women, Collective Wisdom, or A Room of Her Own, you need to read Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684811526
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	03/28/2023
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	1,008,565
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Angela LoMenzo grew up in an interfaith and multicultural environment, surrounded by a family of artists, musicians, and an Academy Award-winning grandfather. In one house, she had her father, the son of a Hungarian Greek Catholic Priest and a classical violinist who co-founded the Los Angeles Pops Orchestra. In the other house, she lived with her bohemian artist mother and Jewish Moroccan stepfather, a bassist whose band toured with The Doors.

This diverse exposure as a child helped to develop her core values of unity, equality, and the belief that we are all interconnected as one. She is fiercely passionate about women’s issues and human rights, as well as advocating for animals and the environment. Writing, art, and photography have been her outlet for self-expression for as long as she can remember. 

Angela has been a makeup artist for over thirty years, working in television, music videos, print, and photography. In 1993 she married her soul mate, veteran bassist James LoMenzo. Spending her entire life in a community of uniquely talented artists has kept her firmly rooted in a creative lifestyle. She lives in her native Los Angeles with James and rescue pup Lita. The two have a daughter, Zoe Rose, who is a graphic artist and illustrator. When Angela is not writing, she is the creative director and makeup artist at Monster House Productions, the video/music production company she started with James in 2012. She recently became certified as a Chopra Meditation Instructor to help people learn the healing benefits of meditation both physically and mentally.

About the Forewordist

Kathy Rose is an American jewelry designer who was born in Iran. She is the co-founder of the retail boutiques Kaviar and Kind and Roseark, as well as the designer of her eponymous jewelry line, Kathy Rose Jewelry. Rose’s designs have been worn on celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Meryl Streep, Rihanna, Cameron Diaz, and more. Kathy was the winner of Bravo’s Launch My Line, and was also selected to exhibit her pieces during the California Design Biennial at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.

About the Photographer

James LoMenzo was born in Brooklyn, New York, and as a young boy he was captivated and consumed by music of all styles, as well as the art of photography. The two art forms have gone hand in hand throughout his life and career. James has recorded and toured with some of the most noteworthy rock icons of our time, including John Fogerty, David Lee Roth, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Zakk Wylde, Ace Frehley, and currently a member of the Grammy Award winning metal band Megadeth. His accomplishments as a photographer/videographer and graphic designer, include advertising campaigns and published books for over twenty years. James and his wife Angela have been married for twenty-nine years and have one daughter together, Zoe Rose. When Angela revealed her idea for Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women, they passionately jumped into it as the perfect collaborative project for the two of them.

Read an Excerpt

Artist/Designer/Musician

Now it was time for Chloe to find her way back to herself after escaping death. The brutal assault caused her a tremendous amount of pain physically and emotionally. Despite this, she feels it sent her in the direction she needed to go. “The attack made me realize that I care about living, I care about my life, I care about it all. There was so much inside of me that I wanted to bring out, but a bit of fear always held me back. Now I felt, ‘What’s the point of holding back, what do I risk? Nothing!’ If people don’t like it, so be it. You can’t please everybody.” Despite these renewed feelings of empowerment, she was still traumatized. She was able to find comfort expressing herself through singing. “I was at the point where I couldn’t walk the streets because I would freeze from loud sounds. I didn’t show it on the outside, but I couldn’t breathe. Singing was so healing for me. The breath and the sound helped me so much.”

Artist/Designer/Entrepreneur

Now that she had reconnected with her innermost artist and was free of all preconceived notions of who she should or shouldn’t be, Elicia was ready to manifest her dream: “Paper has always been a big obsession of mine. There used to be this amazing store in New York called Kate’s Paperie, which was my favorite place on earth. It was like Barney’s, but for paper. So, designing illustrated paper products that could sit on those shelves has been in the back of my brain for many years. During that year of painting, I started to see a card line emerging through my artwork, so I began writing cards—I couldn’t stop! I wrote about 300 cards the first time I sat down to start writing them! It seems like a crazy amount, and it was! It just came so easy to me to come up with ideas, and it felt right. Fast forward to December of 2018, when I launched Girl w/Knife with ninety-six greeting cards, four journals, three notepads, and four gift wrap designs; I said to myself, ‘This is already a success because I’ve gotten here—I’ve created this body of work and this company—every aspect of it. From the name to the products, logo, website, catalog, social media, and everything in between. I wholeheartedly love all of it, every single piece because it is me, full stop. My career is completely on my terms now, and I could not be happier or fuller of ideas for the future.’

Singer/Songwriter

It was Debby’s turn to break into the music scene with that same drive and fearlessness. “I started a band called Stiletto that ended up winning a KNAC award. This was a big deal for me since KNAC was a hard rock station and, for some reason, my being black and female made it surprising to people that I could even play rock ‘n’ roll! After all these years, I still have people come up and ask, ‘How did you learn rock ‘n’ roll?’ There are so many people who don’t really know where rock ‘n’ roll came from. It came from the blues and black folks, y’all! Excuse me, Big Momma Thornton—this is where you got everything from! She’s the woman who wrote ‘Hound Dog.’ Very few people know that song started out as an anthem of black female power.”

Mom/Actor

At this point, Drea’s life and spirit were broken, but following her heart would once again prove to be the impetus for change: “I’ll tell you how I actually got sober. I’ll never forget the day the call came into my dad’s store. A young boy died in a motorcycle accident, and a heart was on the way to the hospital for Munkey. I was really fucked up on drugs, and I didn’t even go home to get anything. I left my dad’s store, took a taxi to LaGuardia airport, and got on an airplane to Florida. I just took off and showed up in Florida in the waiting room of the hospital. They had already taken Munkey’s heart out. The transplant wasn’t being accepted by her body and she was on life support. My mother heard what happened, and she knew I wasn’t right in my head. She took the next flight to Florida to take care of me while I thought I’d be taking care of Munkey. When she got there, I lashed out at her, and she said, ‘You do what you need to do, Drea, but I’m right here for you.’ I was blown away—that was the beginning of second chances for everyone. After a few weeks, the heart finally started to work for Munkey. I stayed for about a month sleeping on the floor of her hospital room. While I was there, the nurses helped me to get sober. When she recovered, I moved her into my room at the apartment and slept on the couch. She lived with me ever since. After this experience, my mother wrote the most beautiful play called The Heart Transplant–it’s unbelievable. She wrote it for me for my 25th birthday.”

Founder & President, Wasteland Stores

Cheryl has had to weather many storms during the learning curve of running her own business. “When people ask me about the secret of Wasteland’s success, I always tell them, ‘You learn more from adversity than from success.’ When I am having success, it feels good, but when I made mistakes, especially early on, that’s when I acquired the knowledge that benefitted me most in operating the business. For example, years ago, we went on a vacation to Seattle and fell in love with the city. We started looking at storefronts to open a Wasteland there. Of course, we found one, and it was a huge expensive space. We had also just opened an online store that had a lot of expenses. We almost went bankrupt. I was losing everything. I called my accountant, and he said, ‘You have to file for bankruptcy—it’s the only way out for you.’ I got off the phone and thought, ‘Like fuck we are!’ I refinanced my house and figured a way out. That’s why I am so careful now and tell people certain risks are worth taking and others are not.”

Actress/Model/ Entrepreneur

“It seems ridiculous to me that it’s an issue to see a person at my age in a bathing suit or whatever else they want to wear. Are you saying we can’t do that anymore? No one is telling musicians like Keith Richards they’re too old and can’t go play on tour, or that they are not relevant because of their age. Why should it stop women? It seems men can keep doing whatever they want until their last breath. Everybody deserves the right to shine. I can’t imagine being anything but supportive to someone for who they want to be and doing what they want to do. The thought of deliberately trying to make a person feel bad or hurt is so foreign to me. I read this excellent book, This Chair Rocks—a Manifesto Against Ageism by Ashton Applewhite. It has a ton of statistics in it. One of them is that despite retailers and mass media rarely featuring women over fifty, we are the demographic with the most disposable income. It also said that in the next ten years, advertisers are going to realize this and start focusing their marketing on this age group.”

Kathy’s determined to do away with the stereotype of women and aging. She has recently been doing national commercials again, modeling, stand-up comedy, and was featured in the latest music video for the band Green Day as a sexy seductress. “I think we must change the way we see other women our age and the way we all see each other. When we throw that positive energy out there, the world will give it right back to us. As long as we collectively stand up and say, ‘Hey, we are still in the game.’ Think about it, if you are fifty, you could potentially live another fifty years. Are you going to spend the next fifty years feeling less than? I don’t think so.” She lives by her two mottos, “Wear your age like a crown,” and “Old is gold.” She sums up her current mindset in her uniquely Kathy way: “I could either be eating off the senior menu at Denny’s or posing in a bikini for Sports Illustrated. I choose to pose in a bikini for Sports Illustrated.”

Editorial Reviews

”LoMenzo, creative director at a video/music production company and a meditation instructor, collects biographical sketches of 25 women known for their various innovative endeavors. The spectrum of their careers spans the well-known creative fields of art, writing, design, music, acting, photography, hairdressing, and makeup artistry, to fields not traditionally thought of as artistic or creative, such as technology, podcasting, and yoga. In short, impactful chapters, these women discuss how their various experiences of accidents, illness, addiction, abuse, and neglect fueled their ambition and success. They overcame and learned from these experiences through a mixture of therapies and treatments, along with massive support from their current friends and family. While the subject matter can sometimes be intense, the overall atmosphere of the book is loving, supportive, and positive. VERDICT: LoMenzo’s book is not a step-by-step self-help manual but rather a soothing inspirational guide that readers can binge-read in one or two sittings or savor slowly.”
—Aspasia Luster, Library Journal

“I can so relate to these very courageous, strong women. I became a band’s manager in the ‘80s and dared to step into a ‘Man’s World.’ How dare I? I was told so many times, ‘You can’t manage a band, only men can do this job,’ but Sharon Osbourne and I proved them all wrong and opened the door. This is a book of truly beautiful, uplifting words and photographs. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these incredible women’s stories and highly recommend it.”
—Wendy Dio, president and owner of Niji Entertainment Group, producer, coauthor of Rainbow in the Dark: The Autobiography, and president and founder of the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund

“There is an alchemist within each of us and an abundance of artistic prowess in these pages. A deeply inspirational writer, Angie LoMenzo’s storytelling provokes a love and reverence for the lives of each of these creative women. Out of our life obstacles, adversity, and loss can come wisdom, greater integrity, immense power, and creative freedom. The fearless life stories and spirit within each of these magnificent women shows us to trust in divinity and to follow our passion and our artistic reveries. From rock stars, designers, songwriters, actors, photographers, speakers, artists, and creators across the gamut, we see we are connected and empowered by our artistic vision. This exquisite book honors all aspects of living a wildly creative life; as the author herself writes, ‘Look to the harmony in nature’s chaos: when the storm hits, the rain is our tears—the wind our resistance—the destruction our pain. Once it passes, there is the opportunity for new growth: the air is cleansed, the soil is nourished, and the brightness of the sun restored.’ ”
—Nina Morgan-Jones, designer & owner of the award-winning clothing line ROMP

“This beautiful book rightly reminds me that any ability to love, to see, to create endlessly, was given to me by my mother and grandmother. It is a joy to see so many women I admire making such a beautiful contribution to healing and helping the world.”
—Kristian Nairn, actor (Game of Thrones, Our Flag Means Death), musician, DJ, and creative artist

“From the furthest depths of the ocean and widest expanses of artistry imaginable to aerialists soaring to the absolute pinnacle of creativity, the boundary-breaking visionaries contained in this book will inspire you to take up your own pen, brush, or instrument (and maybe even tattoo gun) and explore your own genius. Every single woman in this book is a badass and an exemplar of fearlessness, courage, resilience, and, above all, feminine power. Angela LoMenzo’s book is itself a work of art filled with stunning photographs, clearly crafted with heart and marvelous storytelling. Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women is just brilliant. Get a copy for yourself and every woman you love.”
—Becca Anderson, author of the bestselling book Badass Affirmations

“In a world that can sometimes feel parched—thirsty for creativity and joy—this book by Angela LoMenzo is a fountain of juicy stories about inspiring women. The author introduces us to more than two dozen courageous and trailblazing artists, teachers, and entrepreneurs from all walks of life who live with generous hearts and spirits that we can all learn from. If you want to know that a little more zest is possible for you, read this book! If you need an extra boost of bravery, read this book! If you want to simply feel more positive about the world, read this book!”
—Sherry Richert Belul, founder of Simply Celebrate and author of Say It Now

“Having played and recorded with artists such as Lady Gaga, Melissa Etheridge, Stevie Nicks, Celine Dion, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Alanis Morissette, and Dolly Parton, I know firsthand there is no greater force than the power of a creative woman. The transformational journeys of the women featured in this book will deeply inspire the creative power in you! Read it, feel it, then set the world on fire.”
—Kenny Aronoff, world-renowned drummer, author, and speaker

“This book is a rallying cry to all creatives who need an inspiring pep talk from a sisterhood of badass (successful) women. Creativity, grit, resilience, and motivation—THE book that every girl needs in a moment of turmoil and in celebration of her triumphs!”
—Jeneda Benally, award-winning bassist and singer, actor, traditional Dine' Navajo dancer, activist, and radio host

“Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women is a beautifully written, inspiring tribute to incredible women who dared to trust their creative sparks—and find their authentic voices—despite facing hardship and adversity. If you’re looking for a book that will inspire you to use your creative power, this is it.”
—Kiersten Hathcock, author of Little Voices and founder/CEO of Mod Mom Furniture

“This unique look into the personal lives of such supremely strong, creative women is wonderfully inspiring and truly insightful! Each of these women is a powerful example of courage, strength, and the exuberant perseverance of their creative nature. The Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women holds and highlights the beautiful humanity behind the grit and innovation it takes to collaborate with life and allow creativity’s wisdom to guide the way!”
—Brandi Milne, painter, artist, and author of So Good for Little Bunnies and Frölich

“Angela LoMenzo’s delightful and thought-provoking book will galvanize your feminine and creative energies in ways that lead to clarity, excitement, and empowerment. The insightful stories of the visionary trailblazers included in The Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women will move you; they will connect you with your own innovative self, inspiring you to become a powerful force in the world.”
—M.J. Fievre, coauthor of The Book of Awesome Black Women and Female, Gifted, and Black

“The Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women is an AWE-inspiring read. I went from crying to laughing, with everything in-between. There is something magical about how Angela LoMenzo weaves the stories of these women into one cohesive message about the beauty that comes with following one’s passions. I definitely felt amped and ready to take action after reading their heartfelt stories.”
—Rachael Wolff, podcaster, speaker, and author of Letters from a Better Me

“Life is about building yourself and turning moments into memories and experiences as you navigate through the good, bad, and the unfortunate ugly in the world. To connect the ‘dots’ on your life’s journey is key—you eventually gravitate towards those that resonate on the highest level with you. Being a Badass Warrior Princess is work: all these magical women have taken risks and show how we all fall and get back up again—constantly. Do the work and surround yourself with women that support you and want to see you shine.”
—Yael Rallis, drummer, Desert Dome Studio CEO, documentary film director, and moto traveler

“In The Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women, Angela LoMenzo shares the breathtaking journeys, harrowing turning points, and triumphs of courageous and creative women. Their lives spark a passion that will entice readers to start their own novels, businesses, sculptures, or bands. The inspirational stories are revealed in an intimate and engaging way that connects the reader on a deeply personal level. A truly captivating read!”
—Katherine Turman, journalist and coauthor of Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal

From the Publisher

04/01/2023

LoMenzo, creative director at a video/music production company and a meditation instructor, collects biographical sketches of 25 women known for their various innovative endeavors. The spectrum of their careers spans the well-known creative fields of art, writing, design, music, acting, photography, hairdressing, and makeup artistry, to fields not traditionally thought of as artistic or creative, such as technology, podcasting, and yoga. In short, impactful chapters, these women discuss how their various experiences of accidents, illness, addiction, abuse, and neglect fueled their ambition and success. They overcame and learned from these experiences through a mixture of therapies and treatments, along with massive support from their current friends and family. While the subject matter can sometimes be intense, the overall atmosphere of the book is loving, supportive, and positive. VERDICT LoMenzo's book is not a step-by-step self-help manual but rather a soothing inspirational guide that readers can binge-read in one or two sittings or savor slowly.—Aspasia Luster

Library Journal